Telegraphy



Jan. 18, 1944. L. M. POTTS 2,339,292

TELEGRAPH! 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed lay 9. 1940 INVENTOR. LOUIS M. POTTS BY I TORNEY.

Jan; 18, 1944. M P Ts TELEGRAPH! Original Filed Kay 9. 1940 4 Shuts-Sheet I5 INVENTOR. LOU\S M POTTS A TORNEYJ Jan. 18, 1944.

L. M. POTTS TELEGRAPHY Original Filed May 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 CODE GOHBFNAUON START SHIFT 0 STOP INVENTOR. LOUIS M. POTTS A; TORIIVEY Patented Jan. 18, 1944 TELEGRAPHY Louis M. Potts, Evanston, Ill" assignor to Teletype Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Original application May 9, 1940, Serial No.

Divided and this application October 20, 194.1, Serial No. 415,694

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to printing telegraph apparatus and more particularly to cyclically phased type wheel printers having a plurality of printing positions.

The principal object of the present invention resides in the provision of printing and selecting apparatus designed to enlarge the range of selective possibilities in start-stop telegraph systems without extensive modification of the fundamental practices in printing telegraph selecting apparatus and without increasing the number of component impulses from that of conventional signals. This application is a division of copend ing application Serial No. 334,108, filed May 9, 1940, now Patent No. 2,323,932.

The use of a plurality of case shift signals in controlling the operation of telegraph printing apparatus is generally known but certain novel aspects herewith introduced have to do with a conversion system for adapting existent practices in design and manufacture of type Wheel printers to the use of a greater number of case shift control functions. As an incident to this practice. there is contemplated under one embodiment the utilization of a six-unit code for the supervision of apparatus constituted essentially of a five-unit selection and control mechanism, the presence or absence of the sixth impulse being a determining factor in establishing a secondary case shift control while the conventional pair of case shift signals are utilized additionally to the said sixth impulse case shift control for performing the primary case shift supervision. As a result, four instead of only two case shift conditions are provided, and these with but minimum modification :1:

in the essential design of a type Wheel printer, such as that disclosed in copending application Serial No. 193,642, filed March 3, 1938.

In a type wheel printer of the design herein contemplated, the type wheel carrying shaft is a frictionally driven member surrounded by a. number of parallelly disposed selector pins. A shaft stop arm engages one of these pins when any of the latter is brought into selective condition established by an individual disposition of five selector discs, each provided with peripherally disposed notch and lug attributes, and the several adapted to be moved in response to the selective operation of a line signal supervised transfer mechanism.

In addition to carrying the type wheel and accordingly positioning the latter angularly so as to present predetermined type faces into printing position, the type wheel carrying shaft is also utilized for supporting and rotating with it divers incidental function performing interponent elements. When certain one or ones of said elements are arrested in predetermined angular positions as controlled by the type wheel shaft arresting apparatus, there are conditioned corresponding one or ones of several function performing levers for executing miscellaneous incidental operations; via, primary case shift, carriage return, etc.

An additional set of case shift control functions identified as secondary to the conventional case shift operation is contemplated such that their incorporation into existing apparatus may permit of an enlargement of several selective possibilities to an extent of doubling the available selective possibilities based on previous practice.

In a, modified practice of the instant invention a system of responsive relay elements is made to condition a receiver release magnet so as to be alternatively actuable by impulses of two different electrical characteristics but in each case such a characteristic as is opposed to that of the final impulse of a preceding signal. In this way the nature of the final impulse of a signal may be varied and thereby enter into the code combination of its associated signal as a permutation component. Also this impulse serves as a stop impulse no matter what its electrical nature happens to be and thus the need for a separate stop impulse is obviated.

For a more comprehensive understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings and to the detailed specification following hereinafter in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout, and in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view through a printing telegraph apparatus, such as that featured in the copending application mentioned above, having incorporated therein the improvements which exemplify one embodiment of the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view taken approximately on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 to 8 are detailed views of the case shift determining apparatus featured in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a first modification of the invention which utilized plus, minus, and no-current for signal composition with the marking impulses varying between positive and negative current characteristics for the purpose of obtaining a shift control index;

Fig. 10 illustrates a modified form of shift mechanism especially adapted for use in a system such as that featured in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan section of a second modification apparatus;

Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of a system which uses an apparatus of the type shown in Fig. l l in which the signals are of conventional length, but in which a sixth impulse is incorporated with the stop interval and the start impulse is varied to contrast with the stop impulse; and

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic chart of a code signal such as may be used in the system disclosed in Figs. 11 and 12 showing how its component parts are functionally allocated.

In illu mating the preferred embodiment of the present invention, Figs. 1 to 4, a type wheel page printing machine is used Whose selector shaft is vn'iaintained in a vertical position, and at whose upper extremity is carried a cylindrical type supporting wheel having individually movable printing pallets. This type wheel indicated I I is provided with four annular rows of type pallets I2, each pallet of which is radially slidable Within its own confining groove, and each annular row or which is retained and urged towards the concentric center of the wheel by a garter spring I3. A cylindrical printing platen I4 is journaled upon a supporting shaft I and is shiftable endwisc step-by-step in one direction in response to printing operations, and totally in the other direction in response to a carriage return signal in a manner well-known among page printing machines.

The platen I4 is supported in a carriage generally indicated l5 which may itself be supported and confined by antifriction rollers ll confined between the trackways I8 and I5. In front of the printing platen I4, there is indicated a printing ribbon 2|, the location of which, with respect to the periphery of platen I4, is indicative of the printing locus and, accordingly, denotes the level at which each row of printing pallets must be aligned in order to present it into printing engagement with said platen I4.

The type wheel II is integrally associated with a supporting collar 22, and is splined to rotate with the type wheel shaft 23 but free to be shifted longitudinally thereof together with its collar 22. This longitudinal shifting of type wheel I I is executed through engagement of a shifting frame 24 whose horizontal bar 25 is slotted as at 26, Fig.

2, to straddle and be received within the groove 21 of collar 22. For purposes of steadying the shifting frame 24, its bar 25 is provided at remote ends with yokes 28, Fig. 2, of which one is visible in Fig. 2, and which is indicated thereat 28 straddling the supporting column 29, parts 28 and 29 being duplicated at the opposite end of bar 25. but being broken away in the limited disclosure of Fig. 2.

Collar 22, Fig. 1, is prevented from rotating with respect to shaft 23 by the interengagement between its slide engagement coupling bar 3| with that 32 of a selector arm sleeve 33. Because of the tongue and groove engagement between arms 3i and 32, type wheel II, together with its collar 22, may be shifted longitudinally, without disengagement of driving connection between said elements SI and 32, but permitting, nevertheless, of axial shifting of the type wheel and its associated elements throughout a distance sufficient to elevate the type wheel to the dotted outline position (of Fig. 1) while still maintaining the driving and driven relationship between the se lector arm sleeve 33 and the type wheel I I.

Sleeve 33 and its integrally associated selector arm 34 are bound to the shaft 23 so as to rotate with it under impetus of the driven gear wheel 35 which maintains meshing engagement with the motor driving worm 36, but because selector arm 34 may be obstructed by one or another of the plurality of selectable pins 31, the assembly, including shaft 23, may thereby be arrested at any one of several radial positions corresponding with the several selectable pins 31. In passing, mention is made of the scant showing of a solector pin assembly in Fig. 1. Actually this apparatus consists of possibly thirty-two pins 3'! all similarly held and the several closely placed in a circular group about shaft 23 as a center. The single pin 31 illustrated in this figure denotes the relative position, but the others of the selector pins as well as certain supporting apparatus has been eliminated from view in order to render more clear for observation that mechanism which is directly concerned with the present improvement.

When shaft 23 is so arrested, driven wheel 35 may continue to rotate, but slippage is permitted between the latter and its adjacent driving discs 38 and 39 because of the intervening slip washers 4 I, fibrous elements which are tensioned between the adjacent surfaces of gear wheel 35 and said discs 38 and 39. As explained in greater detail. in the above referred to copending application, the rotary drum selector which includes the above-mentioned selectable pins 31 is designed to accommodate a five-unit code having as its essential selector apparatus five circular discs 42 whose peripheries are provided with a notch and lug distribution, so that upon each permutative placement of the several discs 42 an individual clearance is afforded to one of said everal selectable pins 33 which, when that occurs, moves inwardly to present its upper extremity, Fig. 1, into the path of rotatable arm 34, blocking the further progress of said arm and through it the rotation of shaft 23.

This selection. arresting shaft 23 in any of thirty-two rotary positions, may not only serve to align a corresponding printing lug I2 for sub equent printing operation, but also, because shaft 23 is a carrier of other selecting apparatus, it may serve to condition special function operating members as more fully described in said copending application. Of these special functions, certain ones only are concerned in the instant disclosure, and these will be identified as the two primary case shift functions; namely, the conventional upper and lower case shifts. In Fig. l, the two selectable bars which execute these case shift functions are illustrated in the lower portion of the figure by the reference numerals 43 and 44, the former having a sidewardly extending lug 45, and the latter a similar lug denoted 46.

The apparatus now described is that which, in

response to the two conventional case shift signals, exercises a part supervision in determining the extent of vertical shifting of the type wheel II. The copending application referred to explains how, in response to the conventional case shift signals, bars 43 or 44, depending upon which of the two signals is received, rotates about a pivot located at; its left extremity, Fig, 1, so as to present one or another of the lugs 45 and 46 forwardly. When bar 43 is thus selected and its lug 45 moves forwardly, there follows towards the conclusion of its selection cycle a rightward movement of all of the bars, including 43 and 44, so that lug 45, being the only one in extended position, is made to engage the lowermost extremity 41 of a shifting lever 48 whose opposite end being provided with the open slot 49 and straddling the stud pin 51 of case shift plate 52 causes the latter to b moved leftwardly or into the position illustrated in Fig. 1. The immediate significance of this movement is its characteristic placement horizontally of the anchor pivot 53, see also Figs. 3 and 4, but a further consequence of this operation will be discussed later.

Alternatively, upon the selection of the other shift bar 44 and the consequent movement of its lug 45 into the path of the lowermost extremity 54 of lever 55, there results the movement of case shift plate 52 rightwardly to an extent of movement as denoted by the elongated hole 56 and the consequent restoration of case shift lever 48 to its first position, since the two levers 48 and -5 are articulated to the common pivot shaft 51, each serving to restore the other upon its selection. The result of the operation of lever 55 so far as the specific contemplation is concerned is in the movement of said pivot stud 53 rightwardly for a purpose to be discussed later.

Pivot screw 53, which has already been introduced above, constitutes a critical center and pivot support for an important element in the shift mechanism; namely, bell crank "II-I02, about which more will be said later. Moreover, this key pivot is anchored in a sidewardly extending shelf I04, Figs. 3 and 4, which is integral with the shift plate 52 whose progress from side to side is governed by the selectable levers 43 and 44 as just described. When either of its alternative positions is established, shift plate 52 is thereat detained by the action of a spring loaded detent lever 50 which is pivoted to the plate 52 at 60 so as to urge with its V-shaped extremity against one side or the other of a fixed rod 10. When moved to its opposite position from either, lever 50 is cammed about pivot 60 through cooperation of its V-shaped nose and said rod 10.

Referring now again to the vertical shifting frame 24 Which carries with it the type wheel ll, it will be noted that its side wall, Fig. 1, contains an irregular aperture 58 Whose lower edge provides two shoulders or steps indicated 59 and El seen also in Figs. 5 to 8. The movement of frame 24 is maintained in a parallel vertical direction not alone by the aforedescribed alignment studs 29 but also because of shaft 51, one end of which is rigidly anchored in the framework and the surrounding roller sleeve carried by said shaft fits closely within the confining slot 62 of framework 24. The frame 24 is lifted by means of an integral ear 63 to which is connected a comparatively stout but nevertheless yielclabl lift spring 64, having an upper loop which is suspended from the hooked extremity 65 of a lifting lever 66 pivoted at 61 in a stationary portion of the printer structure.

Lever 66 is of the third class type since the lifting force is applied thereto at an intermediate point in its length by means of a roller 68 which is carried at the end of one arm 69 of a bell crank lever whose other arm ll, having an integrally associated bracket 12, carries two rollers 13 and 74. Of these, roller 13 is actuated by the periphery of an initially effective operating cam carried upon the auxiliary shaft 76 while roller 74 is confined within the trackway of a side channel cam H, the two cams functioning jointly in a manner fully described in said copending application.

Auxiliary shaft 16 and the principal control shaft 18 receive their power from drive worm 36, which is carried by the motor shaft, through a gear train which includes the primary driven gear 19, a, driving gear 8! integral therewith and a secondary driven gear 82 carried by shaft l6 and meshing with the just described driving gear 8|, Cam [5 is dependent for rotation upon tooth clutch 83, a positive saw-tooth driving coupling which is brought into driving engagement under the supervision of a trip lever initiated by a cam carried upon the upper end of shaft 18, said cam being part of a driven sleeve described in greater detail in said copending application, and dependout for rotation upon the friction clutch comprised of the two discs 84 and 85, the assembly of cams 8'! being free to rotate upon the release of stop arm 86. Shaft 18 rotating at all times under the influence of driving worm 36 imparts rotation to its associated apparatus only upon the release of friction clutches 84 and 85 to impart rotation to the cam assembly 8'! and through the teeth of clutch 83 to impart rotation to the aforedescribed cam 17.

Though type wheel shifting frame 24 is lifted to variable extents by arm 66, spring 54 and bell 69 as just described, the degree of movement on the part of the lifting levers is always the same. The extent of rise on the part of type wheel H is determined by the position of a pair of stop lugs indicated 89 and BI, Figs. 1 and 5 to 8, which lugs are capable of being vicariously arranged so as to engage one or the other of the stop shoulders 59 and 6! already described. It will be observed that lug Bl is the lowermost one and also that it is substantially wider than is the upper lug 89. When both lugs 89 and 9| are i the leftward position as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, then a condition obtains whereat type wheel II will be permitted to rise only to an extent which will align its upper row of characters ill in printing position opposite the platen l4 and printing ribbon 2|.

correspondingly, when both lugs 83 and BI are moved into the intermediate position. engagement by shoulder 5! will be had permitting the type wheel i I to rise until its second row of characters l2 will be brought into printing position as shown in Fig. 6. When lug M is moved to the extreme right so as not to be engageable by either of the shoulders 59 and 5! and when under this condition lug B9 is permitted to assume its lefthand position such as viewed in Fig. 7, then the type wheel II is permitted to rise until its third row of characters I2 is brought into printing alignment Finally when with lug 9! still at the extreme right and the upper lug 89 is brought into the intermediate position, type wheel I I may be permitted to rise in response to the lifting apparatus until the lower or fourth row of characters I2 is brought into printing alignment as shown in Fig. 8.

There will now be recited a description of the apparatus which, in response to line signals, controls the disposition of the lugs 89 and 9| to effect the four designated case shift conditions which will be referred to for convenience as the first, second. third, and fourth shift positions in an order corresponding to the aforecited description and also to correspond with Figs. 5, 6, 7. and 8, respectively.

Shift plate 52 is threaded to receive two stud screws 92, the latter being preferably of the shoulder screw type with neck portions of sufficient length to be able to receive and support thereat the main body portion 93, Figs. 3 and 4 of lug 89. Also threaded into plate 52 are a pair of shoulder screws SM whose necks are of suilicient length to support freely the body portion 95 of lug 9| which member includes also an upwardly extending projection 96, Fig. l. A tensioning spring 91 having one end looped around an anchor post 90 integral with member 95 and its other end loop secured to the anchor post 99 which extends from a stationary part of the machine, tends to urge lug BI and its main body portion 95 toward the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 5 to 8. This influence is overcome selectively through the instrumentality of bell crank member IOI-I02. One arm I02 of said bell crank engages the aforedescribed upstanding lug 90 of member 95, while its opposite arm is engaged by a lever arm I03 under conditions which will now be described Bell crank IOI-I02 is pivotally supported upon a shoulder screw 53 which, it will be recalled, is carried by the shift plate 52 and particularly in a horizontally extending platform I04 thereof.

A lever I05 of which arm I03 is an integral portion constitutes one of a set of six storage members indicated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Of the set, however, lever I05 is the only one having the configuration indicated, the remaining levers I06 being similar to each other but differing in contour as may be noted in Fig. 2. Certain common characteristics of all of the levers I05 and I05 include their alternatively selectable positions determined by the engagement of their stop pro- ,iection I01 with one or the other of a pair of limit pins I08 and I09, and their latch arm I I I through which they may be retained in one or the other of their alternative positions by a locking bail H2. When latching or locking bail H2 is withdrawn, as illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4, which is its condition during a brief signal transfer interval, each lever I05 and I is capable of assuming either one or the other of its alternative positions and, in response to a received code combination signal, a. corresponding set of conditions is imparted to the set of levers I and I00 by means of a set of positioning swords I I3, fiat steel members with blunt extremities H4, and universal connection discs I I0. Beyond this point, the selector mechanism generally indicated H4 is the same in structure and operation as that disclosed in the aforementioned copending application, save that whereas the distributor cam assembly H5 in the instant apparatus is provided with six setting cams Hi, the copending disclosure contemplates but five.

While all of the general class of storage elements I00 are capable of assuming one or another of the alternative conditions in accordance with the conventional operation of printing telegraph apparatus, lever I05, having particular significance to the present invention, may also assume a right or a left position in accordance with the setting it receives from its associated sword H3. The illustrations in Figs. 3 and 4 show lever I05 in the counterclockwise position; that is, with its lug I01 abutting the right side stop pin I09. The opposite or left-hand position of member I05 is indicated in Fig. 2. With a given setting or presentation of pivot screw 53, it will be understood that the alternative positions of lever arm I03 may be made to effect alternative positioning of hell crank HH and through it, in turn, to cause to be shifted through upstanding lug 96 the horizontally shiftable body portion 95 of shift controlling lug 9|.

Accordingly, with lever I05 in its spacing condition, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, bell crank IIII is maintained in its clockwise extremity with arm I02 urging against the upstanding lug 96 and maintaining body portion 55 so that lug 9| seeks to achieve its right-hand extreme position, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. This condition prevails so long as selector I05 is in its spacing condition notwithstanding the two possible conditions of shift plate 52. However, when pivot 53 is moved (along with shift plate 52) toward the left, Fig. 6, projection 9I may then assume an intermediate disposition as shown.

Lug 09 which is carried as an integral member of plate 52 is shiftable together with that plate so that it may assume either one of two alternative conditions as illustrated, for example, in Figs. 5 and 6. Because, however, elongated slot 50, Fig. 1, is of limited extent only, the shifting of plate 52 leftwardly as for the purpose of placing projecting lug 09 to align vertically with shoulder 59 will also modify the placement of projection 0| through the engagement of the end of slot 50 with bolt 94 so that there is obtained ultimately a condition such as that illustrated in Fig. 6. But, it is to be understood that plate 52 may exert an influence on the disposition of member only when said plate 52 is moved to its extreme right-hand position and when, under the circumstances, member 95 seeks to attain its extreme left-hand position. As a result of these efforts, plate 52 will be moved to its extreme right-hand position under the influence of selectable element 43, but member 95 will be limited in its effort to achieve its left-hand position because of the restrictive nature of slot 56 which will permit said member to move leftwardly only to an extent where its projection 0I will assume the condition indicated in Fig. 6.

Recapitulating, selectable elements 43 and M, acting through the medium of levers 55 and 48, move plate 52 and together with it the projection 89 into either of two alternative conditions, as exemplified in Figs. 5 and 6, Fig. 7 being, so far as projection 89 is concerned, similar to Fig. 5. Selectable element I05 having two alternative conditions and acting through bell crank IOI, spring 9'! being a return agency, is enabled to move member 95 and through it projection 9I into either of two alternative conditions, as exemplified by Figs. '7 or 8 on the one hand and 5 on the other. The intermediate condition of Fig. 6 is attained when plate 52 is in its extreme right-hand position and member 95 seeks to achieve its extreme left-hand position. As a result, member 95 is intercepted in its path of progress because of the restriction by elongated slot 55 and is permitted to move only to an intermediate position, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

It is therefore to be understood that a total of four case shift selections may be achieved in response to (1) the two standard or primary case shift signals conventionally used for elevating a type wheel in the manner described in the co pending application referred to above, and 2) an additional or secondary case shift in response P to the sixth code impulse which eifects corresponding positionment of the storage element I05.

First modification Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a modified form of signal transmission system for effecting the control of a double character shift supervision (a total of four shift positions) after the manner of the preferred embodiment described generally above. Contrasting with the system already described, this modification contemplates the use of a five-unit line signal code instead of a sixunit code, the secondary shift signal characteristic being inherent in the nature of the polarity of marking impulses instead of the marking or spacing nature of the sixth pulse. It is proposed, accordingly, to make available for signal transmission both positive and negative current potential, either one of which is to be used permutatively with no-current to produce five-unit Baudot permutation code signals, but whether the marking signals are constituted of positive current or of negative current will determine the alternative characteristic of the secondary shift control.

In the diagrammatic representation, Fig, 9, the reference character I2I denotes a transmitting distributor of the rotary type which may be controlled by start-stop or multiplex (synchronous) supervision. A tape sensing unit generally indicated I22, is provided with six tape hole feelers. Five of them are committed to the fiveunit signal code, and their contactors I24 are therefore associated with the five segments of the transmitting distributor I2I, but a sixth one whose contactor is indicated I23, is designed to sense the presence or absence of a sixth perforation in a six-hole tape, and serves to introduce positive or negative current to the contact segment I34 which, in turn, introduces corresponding current condition to the marking signals, as will now be described.

The tape transmitting apparatus I22 may be of any conventional type, one embodiment being illustrated in U. S. Patent No. 1,661,012, except that instead of providing but five sensing levers and associated electrical contacting apparatus, unit I22 may correspond in all respects thereto so far as the conventional feeler levers I24 are concerned, special ieeler I23 being simply an additional member and having an additional pair of contacts with separate contacting points represented by the rectangles I25 and I26. The cable I28 contains five lines, each connecting one of the feeler lever contactors I24 with its associated segment in distributor ring I29. A line I3I connects special fceler contactor I23 with one terminal of the winding of a polar relay I32. Continuing from the other terminal of polar relay I32 is a line I33 leading to a special segment I34 of a distributor ring I35 adapted to be bridged by a pair of brushes I35 with the grounded ring I31.

It is to be noted tht the aforementioned segment I34 aligns with and corresponds to the distributor cyclic period coincident with the conventional start segment I38 of distributor ring I29 and that this cyclic interval is in advance of the first one of the five permutation code segments of ring I29. For this reason, it will be observed, the operation of relay I32 will occur in advance of the time that brushes I39 encounter said permutation code segments of ring I29. Thus, the transfer operation on the part of relay I32 is made to occur during a no-current interval of the line I48 (segment I38 having no connection with any of the feelers) and there is in this way prevented the possibility of foreshortened or clipped impulses, a result which might not be avoided save through the utilization of a neutral interval during which to exercise the current reversal.

The normal position of tape feelers and their associated contacts I23 and I24 may be supposed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 9; that is, with their contacts engaging terminal blocks I25 and MI. Accordingly, when presented against the surface of the tape, said contacts I23 and I24 seek to engage the contact blocks I26 and I21, those encountering perforations being permitted to do so and accordingly connecting their respective segments of ring I29 with block I21 which, in turn, receives current potential over a line I42, contactor I43 from one or the other of a pair of opposite current sources I44 and I45. Those not encountering such perforations, however, will, during the critical portion of the signal transfer, fail to obtain current and hence cause to be conditioned their respective segments of ring I29 without electrical potential or with no-current.

Relay I32 being of the polar type as already mentioned, its armature I43 will move to the right or to the left engaging the contact points I46 or I" in accordance with the nature of current coming over line I3I from contactor I23 which may engage positive current block I26 or negative current block I25. When placed in either of its positions, armature I43 remains until altered by an opposite polarity introduced into the winding of its relays I32. Accordingly, it will be understood that the presence or absence of a sixth perforation will correspondingly impress block I2'I with positive or negative current and that on this account, permutation code signals generated over the segments of ring I29 may be either positive and no-current or negative and no-current and that they will accordingly be issued out over line I48,

At the receiving station, there is connected to line I48, in series, the selector magnet I49 and a receiving polar relay I5I whose armature I52 will engage or withdraw from its contact point I53, depending upon whether the marking impulses of the received signals are of positive or negative polarity. In accordance with the movements of armature I52, operating current will be introduced to or withheld from the winding of a secondary shift control magnet I54, over an 0bvious circuit, Fig. 9.

A bell crank armature I55 pivoted at I56 and responsive to the energization or nonenergization of magnet I54 actuates an intermediate bell crank lever I51, resembling in appearance and operation the bell crank lever IBI discussed in the preferred embodiment above. The actual relationship and position of hell crank lever I51 is as illustrated in Fig, 10, whereat its vertically extending arm engages a projection I58 integral with the horizontally shiftable bar I59 whose interponent lug IGI corresponds in appearance and operation to the lug 9i of the preferred embodiment.

Bar I59 will be supported in the same manner as bar of the preferred form; that is, by a shiftable plate, such as plate 52, and will be capable of responding in the same manner a the other member. Likewise. a lug I62 corresponding to the described lug 89 will be provided and will also be carried by said shiftable plate, the two lugs IBI and I32 to function under the control of hell crank I51 in a manner and for the purpose already described in the preferred embodiment.

Since the operation of secondary shift control magnet I54 by the current characteristics as aforedescribed need not be established except during any one impulse of a signal, and since the most favorable opportunity for executing the performance (energization or release) of said magnet I54 is coincident with the stop (R) impulse interval, means have been provided for shunting the supervisory polar relay II so that it may not fluctuate except during the precise interval coincident with the stop signal impulse. This supervision is exercised by a special cam carried upon the distributor shaft H58 which, acting through a follower lever, causes the contact pair I58 to come ajar during the distributive interval coincident with the stop impulse, thereby remov ing the shunt ground from a local circuit as shown in Fig. 9 cutting into circuit relay I5! together with magnet I49 and permitting both members to respond to the stop impulse. At all other times in the distributive cycle, however, the apex of said cam of the distributor shaft I68 is withdrawn from the follower lever permitting contact pair I58 to engage and to thereby effectively shunt relay I5I out of the signal responsive circuit.

It is to be understood, therefore, that the modified showing of Figs. 9 and 10, illustrates another manner of controlling the functioning of a secondary shift control structure but, in this case, under the supervision of a five-unit code instead of a six-unit code as contemplated in the first described system. A shift characteristic for the purpose of supervising a secondary type wheel shift function has been embodied into the standard five-unit code by alternating the current characteristic of the market impulses between plus and minus, the spacing impulses being in all cases no current.

Second modification In Figs. ll and 12, there is illustrated a further system of printer control and line transmission for utilizing the five-unit Baudot code signal in such a manner that it will afford six-unit signaling possibilities. Other manners of accomplishing this result have already been disclosed in connection with the embodiments described above, as by providing means for supplying twocurrent conditions for the marking impulses.

In the manner of signaling contemplated in connection with the present embodiment, there is employed a five-unit Baudot type code combination al having, in addition to the conventional five selective impulses, a special impulse utilized for supervising secondary shift control and a start impulse interval of a polarity opposite to that of its preceding or special impulse interval, under the specific contemplation of the five code combination impulse interval.

In other words, Whereas conventional fiveunit ermutation code signals being provided with seven componential impulse intervals contemplate start and stop impulses of predetermined and invariable line characteristics, means are herewith provided for varying the characteristic of the stop signal interval so that in accordance with its electrical nature it may have utility for determining case selection as well as for phasing supervision by making the start initiating apparatus responsive to a start impulse condition of electrical polarity opposite to that of the immediately preceding stop impulse interval which, as has been said, may consist of either one of two alternative line conditions.

In the incorporation of this plan of operation, it has been found expedient to utilize plus and minus current conditions to represent marking and spacing instead of the conventional practice of utilizing current and no-current conditions for this purpose. Moreover, as in the case of the first modification. Figs. 9 and 10. there will be utilized for the purpose of signal translation a six feeler sensing apparatus generally indicated by the reference character I'II. Reader mechanism I'II is illustrated as having seven contactors I12 to ".8; however, contactors I11 and I18 both are carried upon a single feeler lever while each of the remaining contactors I12 to I18, inclusive. is carried individually upon a feeler lever.

In accordance with the operation of its feeler lever, each contactor is spring urged so that it will engage the contact block towards the right and is capable of movement in an opposite direction so as to engage the contact block towards the left, as illustrated in Fig. 12. The contact block at the right is comprised of a large section indicated I79 and a smaller section insulated therefrom indicated I8I. The contact block at the left is similarly comprised of two sections, the larger one indicated I82 and the smaller one I83. Moreover, as may be noted the small contact block I83 is connected electrically over an obvious line with the large contact block I78 and correspondingly small contact block IBI is connected electrically with the large contact block I82. Opposite sources of grounded potential indicated I88 and I85 are connected respectively to the contact blocks I83 and I8I over lines I88 and IBI to the oppositely placed contact points of armature I88 under the control of a polar relay I88.

The winding of said relay I89 is connected at one end to the aforedescribed feeler contactor I11 and at its other end to a distributor segment I8I situated in distributor ring I82. This distributor I which includes also distributor rings I93, I84, and I85 is of the start-stop type having a brush carrier I81 which supports two pairs of bridging wipers I88 and I88. Brush carrier I91 of transmitting distributor I88 is conventionally illustrated in Fig. 12, but it is to be understood that this element is driven through a friction coupling preferably in a rotary direction and that it may be restrained from movement by the intervention or an armature 2III under the supervision of start magnet 282. Also, that the pair of wipers I88 serve to connect segmented distributor ring I93 with the solid distributor ring I84 which is electrically connected to line 283, and that the pair of wipers I98 correspondingly connect distributor ring I82 which contains the segment I8I aforedescribed with the grounded distributor ring I85.

Attention will now be given to distributor ring I83 which, as may be observed in Fig. 12, is made up of seven segments. When the brush carrier I96 is in its arrested position, wiper I88 is contacting the slightly longer segment designated 5 in the distributor ring I83. Also, it may be observed that following the segment 5 which serves also in the capacity of a stop segment as will later be described, there is encountered a start segment designated by the character S.

Following this segment is one designated II (zero). which has been arbitrarily assigned to the function of supervising the secondary shift. This control is otherwise executed, in accordance with the present embodiment, in a manner generally similar to that described above in connection with the preferred embodiment.

The remaining segments I, 2, 3, etc., including segment 5. which as has already been stated, functions in a dual capacity, serve to distribute those signal impulses which relate to the composition of the permutation code. Segment 5 is connected over a line 284 to the armature I886f polar relay I89. Segment S is connected over a line 285 with the contactor I18. Fig. 12 illustrates diagrammatically transmitting station equipment including a perforated tape controlled mechanism and a rotary signal transmitter under the supervision thereof for issuing signals of a type adapted to exercise the control function including primary and secondary shift supervision for printing apparatus having mechanically the characteristics exemplified in the showing of Fig. 11.

As the brush carrier I91 proceeds in the downward direction as indicated by the arrow 288, the pair of wipers I98 leave segment No. and encounter segment S bridging this element of distributor ring I93 with the solid line ring I94. Assuming, for the sake of illustration, that the perforated tape signal which has just been positioned and which has been impressed upon the feeler levers of record reader "I is such that contactors I11 and I18 (which operate in unison) are moved to the right, that is to say, with contactor I 11 engaging block I19 and contactor I18 engaging block I8I, distributor segment No. 5 will have received positive current potential from grounded battery I84 if relay I89, in accordance with its preceding operation, has been left in a position whereat its armature I88 engaged the contactor of line I86. This circuit is traceable from positive battery I84, line I86, armature I88, line 284, segment No. 5 of distributor ring I83, brushes I99 to outgoing line ring I94 which is grounded at the receiving station. As the brushes proceed to the next segment which is designated S, opposite polarity is issued over line 283 connected to ring I94 over the following circuit. Beginning at grounded battery I85, negative battery is available at block I8I, contactor I18, line 285, segment S of ring I93, brushes I98 to line ring I94.

If instead of the supposed example described above, the particular signal had been one in which the feeler lever with which contactors I11 and I18 are integrally associated was positioned to the left causing engagement with contact block I82 and I83 instead of contact block I19 and I81, the electrical characteristics relative to segments 5 and S would be opposite to that just described. With the brushes I 98 passing over segment 5 and bias polar relay I89 energized in its opposite condition with its contactor armature I88 engaging the contact of line I81, negative current would be available to segment 5 from negative battery I85, line I81, armature I88, line 284, segment No. 5 of ring I98, brushes I98 to outgoing line ring I94. Each of the feeler contactors I12 to I18, inclusive, is connected over an individual line wire with an associated segment 8 (zero) to 4 of the transmitting distributor ring I93. Accordingly, when a feeler lever encounters a perforated position in the tape, its contactor will be moved into one position, say the right-hand one, engaging the contact block I19 while its said feeler lever encounters a nonperforated position and its contactor will assume an opposite condition; that is, contacting the opposite block I82. The designation of plus or minus signals to correspond with perforated or nonperforated signal components is arbitrary, and it is to be understood that the reserve association is equally feasible.

The foregoing is true not only of the conventional five feeler levers of contactors I12 to I18, but also of the special feeler lever with whlch are associated two contactors I11 and I18, as has already been mentioned. One significant difference, however, does prevail which will now be noted. In the case of the special or sixth feeler lever, when a perforation is encountered and, say both contactors are moved to the right, contactor I11 will be introducing positive current from battery source I84 to the winding of bias polar relay I89 while contactor I18 will be introducing negative battery from source I85 over line 285 to the start segment S. Conversely, with the contactors I11 and I18 in the opposite position, that is, engaging contact blocks I82 and I88, negative current originating from source I85 will be introduced through contactor I11 to the winding of bias polar relay I89, while positive current originating from source I84 will be introduced over line 285 to start segment S. Accordingly, since armature I88 of relay I89 is connected to the fifth segment 5 which, as has been said, serves also as a stop interval segment, the result of the operation of the sixth or special feeler lever will be understood as one controlling the reversal of potential for start segment S, that is to say, with a given condition on the part of segment 5 which may be either plus or minus the sixth feeler lever controlling contactors I11 and I18 operate to provide an opposite current potential to the start segment S.

The purpose in having provided bias relay I89 with its armature I88 connecting plus or minus current to the segment 5 instead of directly connecting the contactor I11 to said segment 5 is one of permitting the fifth impulse signal interval to be stored in advance of the time that the distributor brush I98 encounters its segment 5 so that eventually when said brush I98 does so encounter said segment 5, the entire time interval may be utilized to permit the transfer and operation of the feeler levers from one signal to the next with the phasing value (see Fig. 13) of signal interval 5 already safely stored by reason of the response of armature I88 of relay I89. Accordingly. the segment I9I of ring I92 is located well in advance of the cyclic interval at which segment No. 5 occurs in ring I98 obtaining thereby an adequate margin of line time for the purpose just described.

In Fig. 12, the reference character 286 designates a receiving station and within said outline are contained the symbols representing vital apparatus responsive to the signals generated by the transmitting distributor I98. Of these, the reference character 281 denotes a bias polar relay whose armature 288 is grounded, and is adapted to reciprocate between two contact points 289 and 2 which are part of a local circuit for supervising the operation of principal control magnets 2I2, see also Fig. 11. 7

Also situated in said receiving station local circuit are a pair of contactors indicated 2I8 and 2M. The former reciprocates between a pair of contact points 2 I8 and 2I9 and the latter between a pair of contact points 2I5 and 2I8. In the printer apparatus which is shown in mechanical detail in Fig. 11, contactor 2I4 and its associated contact points 2I5 and H8 are indicated as an assembly controlled by a follower arm 22I pivoted at 222 and supervised by a cam apex 223 which is one of an assembly carried upon the distributor cam shaft 18, see also Fig. 1. Also carried on shaft 18 as an integral part of the aforementioned cam assembly and in addition to the aforedescribed cam having the apex 223 are five selector signal cams whose apices actuate the five bell crank levers 224 mounted in pivotal alignment upon shaft 222 and hence affording visibility only to the foremost ones in Fig. 11.

A sixth cam similar to said five distributor cams is utilized for the purpose of actuating the storage lever 4135 which is similar to the one described in connection with the preferred embodiment above and which actuates in a similar manner a bell crank 101 for the purpose of obtaining the referred to secondary shift control. In ad dition to the cams already designated in the assembly carried by shaft '18 is one indicated 226, having a plurality of spaced apices, which when said cam assembly is rotating, serve to rock the armature bell crank 221 about its pivot 228 for the purpose of presenting its magnetically attractive arm 229 against the polar face of magnet 212. This operation of cam 2215 in assisting the armature 221 and thereby diminishing the work of magnet 212 is in accordance with recognized practice in printing telegraphy.

As illustrated in Fig. ll, storage lever 125 is disposed below the other storage levers 231 and 232. This arrangement is in a general sense arbitrary for the shift signal impulse, in the particular instance corresponding to the segment I on the distributor ring 1&3, Fig. 12, may be located if preferred in any other position with respect to the componential sequence both in the distributor ring 193 as well as in the stack of selector storage levers, Fig. 11., designated I115, 231, and 232. Storage levers 232 are five in number corresponding to the signal components which utilize the segments I, 2, 3, 4, and in the transmitting distributor ring 193. Storage lever 231, together with the top one of levers 232, correspond to the code signal impulse occupied by the segment 5, and in the order designated each impulse ultimately serves to place its associated lever 231 or 232 in one or another of its two possible positions as already described in connection with the preferred embodiment.

For the purpose of understanding the principles of the instant improvement, it will suffice to state that ultimately the storage signal is manifest by a conditioning of the several storage levers 105, 231, and 232 with the lever 1B5 exercising the function of controlling secondary case shift bell crank H31 and levers 232 functioning to condition the set of code discs 234 which are five in number.

Storage lever 231 controls the shifting of abovementioned contactor 2i 3. Accordingly, when it is found in the position as illustrated in Fig. 11, it permits contactor M3 to engage its upper contact 219, and when it is in an opposite condition such as that occupied by the counterclockwise extreme storage lever 232, in Fig. 11, said lever 231 by its protuberance 235 will engage the insulated extremity of ccntactor 213 and thrust the latter member so that it will disengage contact 219 and engage contact 2 I8 instead.

A supervision of contactor 214 is had by follower lever arm 22! under the control of cam apex 223, that is, when apex 223 is in the position indicated, contaotor 214 is thrust against its left contact 2i5 but at all other times, that is, when apex 223 is clear of the follower arm 221, contactor 214 is permitted through its own spring tension to recede from contact point 215 and to engage instead contact point 216. There will now be described the effect of the supervision of contactors 213 and 214 by the above-described apparatus.

Let it be assumed for the sake of illustration that a particular code signal transmitted over distributor is comprised of a certain combination of code impulses whose fifth component (there being a total of six components including ii) is constituted of marking characteristics, that is, the current characteristic which will position its sword 233' in the manner opposite to that indicated in Fig. 11 so as to place storage lever 231 in the position opposite to that indicated in this illustration. Accordingly, contactor 213 will be permitted to recede from contact point 219 (assuming that a preceding signal differed in respect to this signal component) and to engage instead its contact 218. This will correspond also the the placement of contactor 214, as illustrated in Fig. 12. In order to produce this result, the nature of the signal impulse will be such as to effect the polar relay 201 to cause it to move its armature 208 to engage contact point 21 1 so as to close the circuit for selector magnet 212 and to cause the armature lever 236, Fig. 11, to assume its marking position. Subsequently, there will follow the start signal impulse whose effect upon relay 201 will be opposite to that just described in connection with the No. 5 signal impulse, which reversal is assured by the apparatus of the transmitting distributor described above. In consequence, relay armature 2E8 will be moved counterclockwise to engage its contact point 209, as illustrated in Fig. 12 opening the circuit for energizing selector magnet 2 l 2 and thereby releasing the selector apparatus for a given cycle.

Under the alternative condition of operation, that is, with the No. 5 impulse being of spacing nature, contactor 2l3 will be withdrawn from contact point 218 and thrust into engagement with contact point 2i9 instead. As described in said copending application, referred to above, cam shaft '18 carries in addition to the aforedescribed operating cams 223 and 226, a spiral distribution of cam apices indicated 23B, five in number. Each one of these is related to one of the signal impulses 1 to 5, inclusive, whose corresponding segments appear in the distributor ring 193, Fig. 12, while the final one of said series specially designated 230A, Fig. 11, is in accordance with the present embodiment, of double width.

This is so because unlike the other of the cams 230 which serve to actuate but a single one of the claw levers 224, it alone actuates a pair of all of the same contour, they may not be difsaid claw levers 22%. Since said levers 224 are all of the same contour, they may not be differentiated in the showing of Fig. 11, however, on account of the spiral arrangement of said cams 230, each claw lever 224 will be operated at a particular cyclic interval, except said two claw levers 224 which are operated in unison by the special apex 235A. Each claw lever is provided with a sword 233 but the sword which is associated with the anterior lever 224, as viewed in Fig. 11, has been specially designated 233'. Each sword 233 and 233' terminates with a, blunt point projection which rests against one side or the other of a hump 238 of an intermediate lever element, five of which are designated 232 but the one related to the sword 233' of which is designated 231. The five similar levers 232 each are provided with a tail piece 239 that serves as a locking projection by being placed on one side or the other of a locking bail 241, which member assumes the position indicated in Fig. 11, except during a brief interval following the conclusion of a particular signal when its lever arm 242 is released by the operation of the aforedescribed auxiliary shaft 16.

Accordingly, while the several swords 233 and 233' may assume one position or the other as its abutment 242 or 244 encounters the downwardly extending vane 245 or 246 of armature 236, levers 236 and 232 may not be correspondingly positioned until said swords 233 and 233' are thrust downwardly by the clockwise move ment of the claw levers 224, which movement is urged by their individual springs 241 as well as by auxiliary individual springs carried upon an integral extension of lever arm 242.

The auxiliary springs of lever arm 242 are not shown in Fig. 11 of the accompanying drawings, but reference may be had to the aforedescribed copending application where it is explained that their function is of an auxiliary nature and to assist the principal actuating springs 241. None of the springs 24'! or the auxiliary springs mentioned may actuate their associated claw levers 224 during the time that the locking bail 24 intervenes by blocking the extending portions 239 of levers 232. However, since lever 23I is not provided with an extension 238 as are the remaining ones of the levers designated 232, its response to its associated sword 233' will occur immediately following the instant when cam apex 230A passes the follower projection of claw lever 224 which carries said sword 233'.

Thus, while the consummation of a signal transfer relating to a particular set of code impulses of any signal must await a brief interval following the fifth or stop code impulse, the actuation of contactor 2I3 by the projection 235 of special storage lever 23l follows immediately upon receipt of the fifth code impulse. This as sures the operation of selector magnet 2I2 for the purpose of arresting the rotation of shaft 18 coincidentally with the signal interval corresponding to the stop or fifth code combination impulse, even though the other purpose of the particular impulse, namely, that of setting one of the code discs 234, may await its regular period of operation which, as has been said, occurs after the lapse of a brief time interval and, in fact. during the occurrence of a succeeding code combination signal.

Cam apex 223 is specially provided for the purpose of actuating the aforedescribed arm 22l which, in turn, controls contactor 2 l 4. Cam apex 223 is effective to thrust contactor 214 against its contact point 2I5 for a period commensurate approximately with the beginning of the stop or No. 5 code combination impulse and continuin through the start impulses and into the II (zero) or shift controlling impulse. At other times contactor 2, see also Fig. 12, engages its contact point 2Hi for a purpose which will now be described.

Operation of the second modification.

concisely stated, armature 298 of relay till fluctuates in accordance with each signal impulse, contactor 2 I l being controlled by cam apex 223 rests against contact point 2H5 at all times except during the stop and start signal interval, and contactor 2I3 being controlled by the No. 5 or stop signal is moved into one or the other of two alternative positions as a result of the operation of the transfer mechanism, described above. only during the period corresponding to this impulse. Under an assumed set of conditions, in response to marking signals, both armature 2M and contactor 2l3 will be deflected downwardly,

that is, to engage their contact points 2 and 2I8, while under spacing signal impulses, said armature and contactor will be in their opposite position, that is, engaging respectively their contact points 209 and 2I9. Also, it is to be recalled that since the No. 5 impulse functions in a dual capacity of effecting the distributor stop control as well as of entering into the permutation code, each cycle must be considered as including a part of the preceding No. 5 impulse, which affeats the current characteristic of the start impulse as well as of the concluding No. 5 impulse, because it, together with the impulses Nos. l, 2, 3, and l, comprises the code combination of the particular signal.

Accordingly, when the No. 5 impulse of a preceding signal happens to be marking, armature 3&8 will be thrust into engagement with its contact point 2! I, contactor 2I4 will be thrust into engagement with its contact point 2l5 (on account of the operation of cam 223), and contactor 2 l3, as a result of the transfer operation, will be moved into engagement with its contact point 218. This will complete a circuit traceable from grounded battery at 25L winding of magnet 2l2, line 252, contaetor 2l3, and its contact point 21s with which it is then in engagement, line 253, contact point 2H, and its armature 208 which is then in engagement with it to ground. As a result of the continued energization of magnet 2 l 2, its armature is held and the rotation of shaft i8 is arrested in accordance with the conventional operation of printing telegraph selector shafts. This condition continues until the circuit for energizing H2 is broken, which change occurs upon the receipt of a proper start impulse over segment S of transmitting distributor ring I93. The polarity of the start signal being opposite to that of the No. 5 or stop signal impulse, as already explained, causes armature 208 to be moved to engage its contact point 209 and away from its contact point 2| I. This interrupts or opens the circuit for magnet 2H, causing the release of its armature 236 and consequently initiating the rotation of receiving distributor shaft 18 in a manner clearly described in the copending application referred to.

As distributor shaft 18 rotates, cam apex 223 rides off the projection of arm 22I permitting contactor 2" to be drawn away from its contact point H5 and to come into engagement instead with its contact point 2IG, meanwhile contactor 2I3 remaining in engagement with its contact point 2I8 because it can be changed only during the occurrence of the fifth impulse. As a result of the change in contactor 2 from contact point 2I5 to contact point 2I6, no effect is obtained at this time, magnet 2I2 continuing to be deenergized until during the course of the succeedin six signal impulses, 0, I, 2, 3, etc., armature 208 in response to its relay 20'! returns to engage its contact point 2 I l, which response can occur only under the control of marking signal impulses.

In the event that a marking impulse is received during the 0 (zero) impulse interval, the action of one of the swords 223 upon the storage lever I05 will cause bell crank Illl to be rotated clockwise in a manner and for the purpose already described in connection with the preferred embodiment above. In the event marking impulses are received for any of the other impulse intervals I to 5, inclusive, their storage levers 23I and 232 will be accordingly positioned, causin corresponding placement of the several code selector discs 234 after the selection has been comk pleted and the transfer mechanism operated, but of particular significance in this connection will be the current characteristic of the No. 5 signal impulse.

If this signal impulse is again marking in nature, the succeeding operation will be the same as the one Just described except for the variations which may occur in the code combination, but if instead the signal impulse corresponding to the No. 5 interval happens to be of spacing nature, then armature 208 will respond by engaging its upper contact point 209 and sword 233' will be disposed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 11. As a result of the latter incident, contactor 2| 3 will be permitted to engage its upper contact point 2l9 instead of the lower contact point 2l8, while on account of cam apex 223, contactor 2 will again be thrust against contact point 2| 5. Thus, a circuit will be completed for energizing the magnet 2l2 traceable from grounded battery through the winding of magnet 212, line 252, contactor 2I3 which is then in engagement with its contact point 2l9, line 254, contactor 2|! and its contact point 2l5, line 255, contact point 209 and its contactor 208 which is then in engagement with it, to ground.

As a result, magnet 2 I2 is held energized which is the proper condition corresponding to a stop impulse until an opposite current condition is received by relay 20! causing its armature 208 to be withdrawn from contact point 209 and to engage instead contact point 2. When this occurs, contactor 2 M is still held in engagement with its contact point 5 because of the described function of cam 223, which maintains said condition until after the interval corresponding to the start, S, impulse. Meanwhile, the last described movement of armature 208 causes the energizing circuit for magnet 2| 2 to be broken and accordingly releasing its armature 238 for the purpose of initiating rotation of receiving distributor shaft I8, as aforedescribed.

Thereafter and coincident with the (zero) signal interval, apex of cam 223 restores contactor 2" to its condition prevalent during the major portion of the cycle: that is, engaging its contact point 2H5. When this occurs, that is, when armature 208 of relay 20! engages contact point 2, marking impulses are thereafter interpreted as magnet 2|2 energizing impulses, because contactor 2 l 3 continues in engagement with its contact point 2l9, causing the magnet 2I2 energizing circuit to be completed over the following described course. The current originates with grounded battery 25! through the winding of magnet 202. line 252. contactor 213, and its contact point 2l9. line 254, contactor 2H and its contact point 2l6, lin 253, contact 2!] and its contactor 208, to ground. Thus, phasing of the receiving magnet 2I2 as well as of its controlled shaft 18 is regulated notwithstanding the reversed condition of the No. 5 and start impulses.

While the foregoing description has been explained and described with reference to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be restricted in any manner to the language of th detailed specification nor to the illustrations in the accompanying drawings, except as indicated in the hereunto appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telegraph transmission system, a transmitting station apparatus comprising a transmitling distributor having a series of code signal impulse segments and a special segment, a tape sensing appar t s having a set of alternatively conditionable perforation feelers each one associated with one of said transmitter segments, means under the control of each of said set of feelers for conditioning its associated transmitter segment in a manner corresponding to its condition, and means for conditioning said special transmitter segment in a. manner reverse to that of one of said code segments.

2. In a tape transmitter, a transmitting distributor having a series of impulse elements, a tape feeler unit having a series of tape feeler levers, means under the control of certain ones of said tape feeler levers for correspondingly conditioning certain associated ones of said transmitter elements, and means responsive to the operation of a certain other one of said feeler levers for simultaneously conditioning a plurality of said transmitting element in a variable manner.

3. In a telegraph system, the method of signaling which comprises generating sets of variable signal impulses each having alternative electrical conditions, allocating all but one of said signal impulses to a permutation code, allocating said one of said signal impulses to the function of initiating a signal distribution release operation, and determining the electrical characteristic of said one impulse to be invariably opposit to that of a certain impulse of its set.

4,. In a telegraph transmission system, a transmitting station apparatus comprising a transmitting distributor having a series of code signal impulse segments and a special segment, a tape sensing apparatus having a set of perforation feelers, means under the control of said set of feelers for conditioning associated transmitter segments correspondingly, and means responsive to one of said set of feelers to condition said special transmitter segment in accordance with a predetermined contrast.

5. In a tape transmitter, a transmitting distributor having a series of transmitter elements, a tape feeler unit having a series of tape feeler levers, means under the control of certain ones of said tape feeler levers for correspondingly conditioning certain associated ones of said transmitter elements, and means responsive to the operation of a certain other one of said feeler levers for simultaneously conditioning two of said transmitter elements oppositely.

6. In a transmission system, a rotary distributor for issuing permutation code signals including a sequence of code impulse segments and phase regulating segments, and means under the control of the last code impulse segment of the sequence for determining the electrical nature of an ensuing phase regulating segment.

'7. In a transmission system according to claim 6, a. tape sensing apparatus comprising feeler levers positionable according to perforations in a control form, contactors positionabl according to said feelers and each electrically associated with one of said distributor segments, and a relay under the control of the last code impulse segment of said series comprising said means for determining the electrical nature of an ensuing phase regulating segment.

8. In a transmission system, a set of feelers for sensing codal perforations of a control form, a feeler for sensing a shift perforation in a control form, a contactor associated with each of said feelers and movable therewith to engage predeterminedly related current potentials, a further contactor mechanically associated with one of said codal perforation feelers to move to engage said current potentials in an opposite maner, and a distributor including a set of elements each electrically connected to one of said feeler contactors and said further contactor for generating sisnals constituted of impulses of current potential according to said engagements of said contactors.

9. In a transmission system, a rotary distributor comprising a series of segments, some relating to cyclic phase regulation, some to essential signaling code, and some to cas shift control, a record reader including a series of contactors each connected electrically to one of said distributor elements, two sources of electrical signal ing current disposed to be engaged by the contactors of said essential code and said case shift control elements under similar conditions of operation and said phase regulating contactor under opposite conditions of operation, and means for compelling the contactor of said phase regulating element to perform in a predetermined relation to the operation of one of said essential code contactors.

LOUIS M. POTTS. 

